Parents' Guide to The Dark Horse

If you want to see a great actor fully inhabit his role, then watch Curtis in this deeply moving film: He's its heart. Though it follows a similar trajectory as other inspiring biopics, The Dark Horse surprises by taking detours into both Genesis' childhood and his increasingly fraught relationships with his brother and his nephew, as well as his mental illness. These not only enhance the storyline but deepen it to a level that renders the whole thing both hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking. The detours are unexpected but still feel universal and true. The film thoughtfully includes Māori language, traditions, and spaces, and the chess is interesting, too: The intricate game rises above the station of mere storytelling prop, acting instead as both symbol and lifeline—not just for the kids, but for Genesis himself.